Rainbow Since You Been Gone became the band’s first true hit single in 1979.
Ritchie Blackmore did not write a note of it.
Russ Ballard wrote the song for his own 1976 album Winning.
Two other bands recorded it before Rainbow ever touched the tape.
Graham Bonnet, only months into his run as Rainbow’s singer, turned the song into a hard rock anthem.
The song reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
This is the real story behind Rainbow Since You Been Gone.
It runs from Russ Ballard’s piano bridge to the 2023 Guardians of the Galaxy trailer.
That trailer introduced the song to a new generation.
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⚡ Key Takeaways
- Russ Ballard wrote “Since You Been Gone” and first released it on his 1976 solo album Winning.
- Rainbow recorded the song for the 1979 album Down to Earth with Graham Bonnet singing lead vocals.
- Roger Glover produced the track and played bass, with Don Airey on keyboards and Cozy Powell on drums.
- The single reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 used the song in its 2023 trailer, introducing it to a new generation.
What Makes Rainbow Since You Been Gone Such an Enduring Song?
Rainbow Since You Been Gone endures because it turned a soft pop song into a hard rock anthem.
It never lost the original melody.
Blackmore’s guitar riff gave the track teeth that the 1976 original never had.
Bonnet’s vocal delivered raw urgency instead of polish.
The combination reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979.
It has stayed on classic rock radio ever since.
Rock critics still point to the song as proof that a cover can outgrow its source material.
Who Wrote Since You Been Gone Originally?
Russ Ballard wrote “Since You Been Gone” and released it first on his own 1976 album Winning.
Ballard had already sung lead on Argent’s hit “Hold Your Head Up.”
He left that band in 1974 to write and produce for other artists.
He built the song’s chord bridge from an idea he first played on a piano in Saint-Tropez back in 1966.
He finished the track nearly nine years later.
Ballard has said the lyrics grew out of an anxiety dream rather than a real breakup.
Why Did Ritchie Blackmore Choose This Song for Rainbow?
Blackmore picked “Since You Been Gone” because Rainbow needed a song built for commercial radio in the United States.
Two other acts already recorded it before Rainbow did.
Head East charted the song at No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.
The group Clout also released a version that same year.
Rainbow’s version hardened the arrangement instead of copying either earlier take.
How Did Graham Bonnet End Up Singing Rainbow Since You Been Gone?
Bonnet sang lead vocals on Rainbow Since You Been Gone as the band’s new frontman in 1979.
He stepped in for Ronnie James Dio.
Bonnet had already tasted chart success eleven years earlier as singer of the Marbles.
Their Bee Gees-penned single “Only One Woman” reached the UK Top 5.
Rainbow’s fourth studio album was his only release with the band.
He later moved on to Michael Schenker Group and then Alcatrazz.
What Happened When Rainbow Recorded Down to Earth?
Rainbow recorded Down to Earth between March and July 1979.
The band tracked instruments in France and vocals at Kingdom Sound Studios in New York.
Roger Glover produced the album and played bass.
It marked his return to a full-time band role after years working mainly behind the console.
Don Airey played keyboards, and Cozy Powell drummed on every track.
The full studio lineup appears in the table below.
| Role | Musician |
|---|---|
| Lead vocals | Graham Bonnet |
| Guitar | Ritchie Blackmore |
| Bass and production | Roger Glover |
| Keyboards | Don Airey |
| Drums | Cozy Powell |
How High Did Rainbow Since You Been Gone Chart?
Rainbow Since You Been Gone peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart on October 13, 1979.
The single reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
That marked Rainbow’s first appearance on that chart.
It also hit No. 5 in Ireland and No. 47 on the Dutch Single Top 100.
The song went on to earn a UK Gold certification for sales of 400,000 units.
Where Have You Heard Rainbow Since You Been Gone Recently?
Rainbow Since You Been Gone reached a new generation of listeners in February 2023.
Marvel used the song in the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
VH1 had already ranked the track No. 82 on its list of the greatest hard rock songs ever.
Brian May of Queen covered the song during his 1993 Back to the Light tour.
The song’s staying power comes from a riff and chorus that still sound aggressive decades later.
How Does Rainbow Since You Been Gone Compare to Other Covers?
Rainbow Since You Been Gone is not the only cover of Russ Ballard’s song.
It is the version most fans hear first.
Alcatrazz recorded a version with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen years after Rainbow’s take became a hit.
Cherie and Marie Currie released a gender-flipped cover that reached No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.
Impellitteri also covered the song on their 1988 debut album, keeping the hard rock arrangement Rainbow established.
People Also Ask
Who wrote Since You Been Gone?
Russ Ballard wrote “Since You Been Gone” and released the original version on his 1976 album Winning.
He also sang lead for Argent on their hit “Hold Your Head Up” before going solo.
Head East and Clout both recorded the song before Rainbow’s 1979 cover became the definitive version.
Who sang Since You Been Gone for Rainbow?
Graham Bonnet sang lead vocals on Rainbow’s version of “Since You Been Gone.”
He joined the band in 1979 as Ronnie James Dio’s replacement.
He appeared only on the Down to Earth album, and left Rainbow soon after the album’s tour ended.
What album is Rainbow’s Since You Been Gone on?
Rainbow’s Since You Been Gone appears on the 1979 album Down to Earth.
Roger Glover produced the record and played bass, while Don Airey handled keyboards and Cozy Powell played drums.
The song was released as the album’s first single on August 31, 1979.
How high did Rainbow’s Since You Been Gone chart?
Rainbow’s Since You Been Gone peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1979.
It also reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 in Ireland.
The song later earned a UK Gold certification for 400,000 units sold.
Is Since You Been Gone a Rainbow original?
No, Since You Been Gone is not a Rainbow original.
Russ Ballard wrote and first recorded the song in 1976.
Head East and Clout both covered it before Rainbow did in 1979.
Rainbow’s hard rock arrangement became the version most listeners know today.
Where Can You Watch Rainbow Since You Been Gone Live?
The official Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow channel hosts a live performance of the song from the Down to Earth era.
Rainbow Albums Worth Adding to Your Collection
Down to Earth
1979
The album that includes Since You Been Gone.
Graham Bonnet’s only studio record with Rainbow.
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Rising
1976
The Dio-era album that built Rainbow’s early reputation.
A heavier, more mythic sound than the Down to Earth era.
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Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
1978
The last album before Bonnet joined on vocals.
Shows the band still leaning on its harder early sound.
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Line-Up
1982
Bonnet’s solo album made right after leaving Rainbow.
Shows where his voice went after Since You Been Gone.
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Rainbow Since You Been Gone remains the clearest example of how the band made someone else’s song its own.
Bonnet’s vocal, Blackmore’s guitar, and Glover’s production gave Ballard’s song new life it never had alone.
The song still opens classic rock playlists and reaches new listeners through film trailers decades later.
For the album that built around it, read the Down to Earth review.
For the band’s full lineup history, visit the Members of Rainbow hub.
Last updated: September 7, 2026
That staying power is exactly why Rainbow Since You Been Gone still matters today.